Ode to Music Students.

My Nana wasn’t a famous musician. She didn’t perform in front of a crowd. Her works were never published…in fact, she never wrote one song. She wasn’t acknowledged in music periodicals or mentioned in entertainment news. My Nana’s music has reached many, none the less, and will live on indefinitely. It will spread like wild flowers…

Congratulations! You want to give your child music lessons. There are so many choices out there it is hard to know where to begin. Which instrument, which teacher, which program and at what age are all issues to consider. What is a good age to start lessons? As soon as possible! Why? The ages of…

This past week was Composition Camp 2010.  This is the second year I have held such a camp. I love to compose and I love to teach composition but regular lesson time is jam packed with so much that there isn’t a great deal of time to focus on creating.  The four day summer day…

Have you ever taken a good look at a piece of music…a really good look? It is made up of lines, dots, squiggles and a mish mosh of symbols….a beautiful piece of visual art that, when translated by the capable hands or voice of a musician, becomes an auditory treat….well, if it is translated correctly. Like…

Growing pains. They are part of the maturing process. They can be physical in nature but many times they are emotional. Even more painful is watching your child or student work their way through the inevitable discomfort of growth. Yet, looking back on my career, it is the moments after unrest that hold the greatest of victories. Early…

A sweet young man entered a music studio one day. He was so excited to start learning with his new teacher. He was a young teen and had an air of business about him as he and the teacher discussed scheduling and past musical experience. “I’m in a band you see and need some help with learning some of…